2026 NFL Draft Rankings: RB
1
Jeremiyah Love
School: Notre Dame
Ht/Wt: 6’0”, 212 lbs
Strengths:
– Game breaking speed.
– Very explosive.
– Good quickness.
– Home run threat on any play.
– Patient runner and picks his lane at the right time.
– Makes himself skinny when navigating traffic between the tackles.
– Nice jump cut to avoid tacklers.
– Hurdles, stiff arms, spin moves also utilized to make defenders miss.
– Effective in the passing game.
– Sure hands, good route runner with the speed and agility to get open.
– Can run routes out of the backfield or split out wide or in the slot.
– Looks pretty solid in pass protection.
– No fumbling issues.
Weaknesses:
– Plays with decent enough power, but isn’t really a power guy.
– When defenders wrap him up, he can have a tough time falling forward for those extra few yards. They bring him down right in place.
– In my exposures, was stuffed a handful of times in goalline situations.
Summary:
Love is an elite RB prospect in the draft, with high end athletic traits, making him a home run threat on any given play. He can navigate traffic between the tackles, pick up yards on outside runs, and contribute in the passing game (both as a pass catcher and protector). There isn’t much not to like about his game. His strong reputation for ball security only further cements his status. To nitpick, I wouldn’t say he is the most powerful player. He does sometimes get brought down right at the tackle point, and did have a few blips in short yardage situations when he had to fight through contact. These are minor things, though. At the next level, Love projects as an elite 3 down back.
| Grade: 89.5 | Round Grade: 1st |
2
Jadarian Price
School: Notre Dame
Ht/Wt: 5’11”, 203 lbs
Strengths:
– Good downhill runner with a decent amount of power.
– Can pinball his way through traffic, as defenders sometimes have a tough time bringing him down.
– Great vision.
– Decisive runner.
– Is patient enough, but when he makes the final decision, he hits the hole with a sense of purpose.
– One-cut ability gives him some value on outside runs.
– Usually good when tasked with punching the ball in the end zone in goal line situations.
– Good stiff arm.
– Experience and success returning kicks.
Weaknesses:
– Speed is fine, but probably closer to average.
– Burst is also average.
– Good one-cut runner, but doesn’t really have a lot of lateral elusiveness to make people miss.
– Can pop a big run from time to time, but I wouldn’t call him a home run hitter.
– Doesn’t offer much as a pass catcher.
– Had some fumbling issues. Concerning, especially given relative lack of carries.
Summary:
Price plays a bigger style than his measurables would suggest. He runs with good power between the tackles, and can fight through contact for extra yards. When on his game, he was able to have success in goal line situations. His high end vision was responsible for a lot of his success in general, allowing him to pick his lanes and hit the hole quickly. His speed is decent enough for him to pop some big runs, but his athletic traits are definitely closer to average. They’re fine, but nothing to write home about. He still has some success on outside runs, but I would have liked to see more from him in the passing game. Perhaps he can grow in that area. Entering the NFL, there will be some questions about whether he is a 2 down or 3 down back. Additionally, he’ll have to earn trust after having some fumbling issues in college. The specifics about his role will have to be decided, but Price brings enough to the table to be a solid contributor for a team, likely as part of a rotation.
| Grade: 77.5 | Round Grade: 3rd |
3
Mike Washington
School: Arkansas
Ht/Wt: 6’1”, 223 lbs
Strengths:
– Big frame to punish tacklers
– Plays a bruising style of football and will lower the shoulder at the end of his runs.
– Size and strength make him effective in short yardage situations.
– Good straight line speed to keep going when he makes it to the second level.
– Solid vision.
Weaknesses:
– Good speed, but doesn’t have the agility/change of direction skills to go with it.
– Can win races if an open lane takes him to the second level, but making people miss isn’t his strong suit.
– Has the frame to do well in pass protection, but technical improvements can still be made.
– Outside of basic contributions, he doesn’t offer much as a pass catcher, and can have trouble creating separation on his routes.
– Had a lot of fumbling issues.
Summary:
Washington is a big bodied RB who runs with the power that you would expect. He is not afraid to lower the shoulder and deliver a punishing blow to his opponent. His straight line speed is surprisingly good, and if he happens to break one into the second level, he is actually capable of taking a footrace pretty far. However, his physical profile is much more limited when it comes to agility or changing directions. He isn’t super elusive in the open field. Additionally, this hurts him in the passing game, as he has some trouble creating separation. Washington can help his case for 3rd down snaps in pass protection. He will need to make technical improvements, but he has the frame for it to work. At the next level, Washington can be a solid player. He has the chance to see regular snaps, but they will likely be as part of a committee. Fixing his fumbling issues probably will also factor into just how many snaps he sees.
| Grade: 72.4 | Round Grade: 4th |
4
Nicholas Singleton
School: Penn State
Ht/Wt: 6’0”, 219 lbs
Strengths:
– High end speed.
– Can win a footrace if he gets into the open field.
– Contributes in the passing game and can turn the ball upfield for a big gain.
– Pretty solid in pass protection.
– Has enough size to run between the tackles and get tough yards.
– Has a lot of experience returning kicks, speed makes him a threat.
Weaknesses:
– Change of direction isn’t great.
– Loses momentum when he has to stop/start.
– Lacks high end agility to make people miss in a phone booth.
– Vision isn’t great. Runs into bodies and isn’t always patient enough to let blocks develop.
– Balance looks questionable at times.
Summary:
Singleton is a one cut runner, but has high end straight line speed to eat up yards quickly when he finds them. He doesn’t have the best lateral agility, and isn’t really the kind of back who will make something out of nothing. However, with decent blocking, his speed and size combination can allow for some nice pickups. These tools, along with his ability to contribute in the passing game – both as a receiver and a blocker – can help him secure a 3 down role. But he will have to be more consistent with his vision and patience in order to become more consistent as a runner. Overall, he isn’t perfect, but enough is there for him to be a starter at the next level, along with some kick return potential.
| Grade: 72.2 | Round Grade: 4th |
5
Eli Heidenreich
School: Navy
Ht/Wt: 6’0”, 198 lbs
Strengths:
– Experience as a slot receiver and RB.
– Powerful runner with good speed and acceleration.
– Big enough frame to handle runs up the gut.
– Speed to win around the corner.
– Good one-cut ability.
– Speed shows up on vertical routes run out of the slot.
– Good route runner on vertical routes.
– Strong hands and can handle contact at the catch point while still holding on to the ball.
– Unique experience blocking from an in-line position.
Weaknesses:
– Lack of experience playing as a traditional RB.
– Many of his carries were sweeps to the outside.
– Likely will face a learning curve when he has to transition to a more traditional offence at the NFL level.
– Good athlete overall, but a bit limited laterally.
– Lacks twitch.
– For this reason, you don’t see many in-breaking routes when lined up in the slot. It also limits him a little bit as a runner.
Summary:
Heidenreich has good speed and runs with more power than you might expect. He was a slot receiver/RB hybrid in college, and probably will continue to move around at the NFL level. However, he lacks twitch to be a full time WR, so he will likely be a RB, who splits out to run vertical routes. He has the tools to run between the tackles and enough juice to handle outside runs. This, along with his talent as a pass catcher, gives him the potential to be a nice offensive weapon. Outside of some of his lateral mobility limitations, his vision as a traditional RB is largely untested, and he’ll need time to adjust after playing in an offence that ran a lot of gimmicks. The potential is there for him to be a versatile offensive weapon, perhaps even a 3 down guy. But some of the limitations and unknowns will likely push him to day 3 of the draft.
| Grade: 70.0 | Round Grade: 4th |
6
Demond Claiborne
School: Wake Forest
Ht/Wt: 5’10”, 188 lbs
Strengths:
– Great speed and great twitch.
– Has the ability to make quick cuts.
– Will take a run up the middle that has no lanes, and bounce it outside for a big one.
– Home run ability.
– Can beat defenders to the corner.
– Great at making people miss in the open field.
– Can get skinny when running up the gut and find little creases.
Weaknesses:
– Had some issues with drops.
– Not a natural hands catcher.
– Frame is on the smaller side, and he can have trouble gaining yards after contact.
– Inconsistent runner between the tackles.
– Vision is questionable.
– Will lose chunks of yards trying to do too much.
– Has to balance home run ability with better decision making.
– Issues show up in pass protection.
– Way too many fumbles.
Summary:
Claiborne is a home run hitter at the RB position. His dynamic speed allows him to consistently win footraces. But it is his high end agility and twitch that allows him to be in these situations in the first place. He is great at making people miss, and can stop/start without losing much momentum. Claiborne is capable between the tackles due to his ability to make himself smaller and find some narrower running lanes. However, he lacks an element of power to his game and will be inconsistent in this area. Additionally, his vision is still a work in progress. He doesn’t always find the right running lanes, and at times, will lose yards trying to do too much. I typically favour the speedier backs to the power ones, even if they are a bit on the smaller side. But with those kinds of players, I like there to be a passing game threat. Unfortunately, Claiborne has shown to not be a natural catcher of the football, dealing with drops and bobbles. Additionally, he has issues in pass protection and with fumbles. These areas of his game will be critical for him to improve if he wants to see more than a change of pace role. A team will have to develop some of those skill sets, but nevertheless, his high end athleticism is very intriguing, and the home run potential is still worth a shot in the middle rounds, despite his lack of power.
| Grade: 68.6 | Round Grade: 5th |
7
Rahsul Faison
School: South Carolina
Ht/Wt: 5’11”, 208 lbs
Strengths:
– Decently well rounded skill set.
– Able to play with some power and lower his shoulder for an extra yard or two.
– Good hands and is a solid receiver out of the backfield.
– Is a smooth mover and can go for a decent gain when he catches a pass in space.
– Can make people miss in the open field.
– Good vision when navigating traffic.
– Shows patience, and will slow down/speed up depending on how his blocks are set up.
Weaknesses:
– Overager prospect. Will be 26 years old as a rookie.
– Speed is average at best.
– Moves well, but doesn’t have that breakaway ability.
– Doesn’t have special teams experience, which could be an issue if he is unable to carve out a regular role on offence.
– Wasn’t used a ton in pass protection, and had whiffs when he was.
Summary:
Faison might not be a flashy player, but he does enough things well that he could still find a role on offence, potentially even as a 3 down back. He plays with a decent amount of power and is willing to lower his shoulder at the point of contact. While he isn’t a speedy player, his movements are fluid, which really helps him as a pass catcher. His hands are natural and when he gets into space, he can make people miss. His speed is average at best, and I wouldn’t call him a big play threat as a runner. This likely hurts his stock. As well, he will be 26 years old as a rookie, which will turn some teams off. Faison has no special teams experience, which is a concern. Because unless he can pick it up quickly as an overaged prospect, he puts more pressure on himself to quickly earn a regular role on offence, as teams don’t really like to use back-end roster spots on guys who don’t play on special teams. While he doesn’t have high end upside, the good news for him is that he does enough well to potentially find that role on offence. Improving his technique in pass protection could be a key point that either makes him or breaks him.
| Grade: 68.4 | Round Grade: 5th |
8
Le’Veon Moss
School: Texas A&M
Ht/Wt: 5’11”, 203 lbs
Strengths:
– Does well to follow his blockers.
– Decisive one cut runner.
– Won’t hesitate to hit the hole when it opens up.
– Plays with a good amount of power.
– Bounces off tackles to pick up extra yards.
– Has been effective in short yardage and goal line situations.
– Willing in pass protection.
Weaknesses:
– Injury concerns.
– Doesn’t have great top speed. Gets chased down, and will have it happen more at the NFL level, whenever he breaks one into the secondary.
– Lacks twitch to make people miss.
– Instances of misses forced in the open field mostly seemed to be poor plays by the defender. He isn’t really a shift guy, and is instead more of a one cut runner.
– Hands were mostly decent for pass catching, at least in my exposures, but he doesn’t have the agility or route running ability to get open and be a regular contributor.
– Pass rush technique needs improvement.
– Has had some fumble issues in the past.
Summary:
Moss is a downhill RB who will likely fill in this role at the next level. There are improvements to be made, including in pass protection, but for the most part, what you see is what you are probably going to get. He runs hard with a decent amount of power, showing the ability to bounce off tackles. Moss’s vision stands out, whether it is his patience to follow his blocks, or decisiveness to hit the hole as it opens. Upside here is limited, as he lacks true speed, and doesn’t have much twitch to speak of. His lack of twitch forces the one cut style, which works when the lane opens up, but will limit him when he has to create more on his own. I don’t see him contributing much as a pass catcher, and his style of play likely prevents him from being a 3 down back. Moss currently projects as a depth RB, who could eventually see regular snaps for a team that rolls with a committee that includes a power back.
| Grade: 68.3 | Round Grade: 5th |
9
Adam Randall
School: Clemson
Ht/Wt: 6’3”, 232 lbs
Strengths:
– Great size for a RB.
– Good build up speed.
– Can hold his own in footraces if he manages to get to the second level.
– Former WR who brings some pass catching ability to the backfield.
– Speed to win on vertical routes when split out.
– Frame to be an asset in pass protection.
Weaknesses:
– Injury concerns.
– Lacks twitch to create much on his own or make people miss in the open field.
– Limited route runner as a result.
– Early speed isn’t great. Doesn’t really get going until 4 or 5 yards down the field. If he gets to that point, he can pop one, but that initial burst just doesn’t quite seem to be there.
– For having a background as a receiver, his hands are mediocre.
– Has potential in pass protection, but needs to improve technique.
– Inexperience at RB shows with instances of poor vision.
– Power doesn’t always match his size.
– Had a few fumbles.
Summary:
Randall is a big RB with a few attributes that could help him see the field. He is a downhill runner, but his build up speed is quite deceptive. This is because he starts off pretty slow, which isn’t ideal for a RB, as you don’t always make it to the second level. But when he does, he then shifts gears and can turn on the burners to win a footrace down the field. So there is some home run ability hidden in there. His big frame gives him potential to be great in pass protection, but he is still a work in progress from a technical standpoint. He also has the potential to be a good power runner, but right now, his upright running style sort of takes away from it. As a former receiver, Randall can make some contributions in the passing game. I think his buildup speed could be utilized out of the slot on vertical routes. However, his lack of twitch and agility likely will limit his route tree. Randall is still inexperienced at the position, and is still working out his vision as a runner, as well as some of the other things mentioned previously. He is somewhat of a developmental guy, but he could be an interesting one-cut power runner with straight line speed if he can continue developing. Early on, it would surprise me to see him contributing as a kick returner. If he puts it all together, it wouldn’t totally surprise me to see him end up as a bellcow, though I do think he would be a better fit in a committee, with a more dynamic, shiftier back mixing in.
| Grade: 67.2 | Round Grade: 5th |
10
Emmett Johnson
School: Nebraska
Ht/Wt: 5’10”, 202 lbs
Strengths:
– Deceptively shifty within tight areas.
– Good jump cut.
– Can weave and wiggle his way through traffic for extra yards.
– Plays with a good pit of power.
– Frame is compact and he is not afraid to lower the shoulder.
– Good vision to let his blocks develop and then hit the hole.
– Effective at the goal line.
– Good ball protection, even with a big workload.
– Good enough hands to catch check downs.
Weaknesses:
– Shifty between the hashmarks and in tight spaces, but not really in the sense that he’ll bounce too many plays outside. He can at times, but it isn’t really his thing.
– Speed is average and he isn’t really a consistent home run hitter.
– Can contribute as a check down pass catcher, but isn’t a big threat in the passing game.
– Route running and YAC ability isn’t anything special.
Summary:
Johnson is a solid, hard nosed back who can grind you down on inside runs. He runs with power and will lower the shoulder to deliver some pop at the point of contact. This running style suits his plus vision and quick decision making. His feet are quicker than your typical power back, and he does a good job of weaving his way through traffic in the middle. That said, he isn’t necessarily someone who will make a lot of people miss in the open field, and he doesn’t frequently take runs to the outside. He can make basic contributions in the passing game, but isn’t a big play threat there, either. For the most part, he is a “what you see is what you get” kind of player, and he has enough to be a solid contributor of offence. His ability to catch checkdowns could see him in a 3 down role, but personally, I’d prefer to mix him in with a more dynamic back. His lack of high end speed and athleticism caps the upside, but as a mid round guy in the draft, I wouldn’t mind the value.
| Grade: 67.1 | Round Grade: 5th |
11
Seth McGowan
School: Kentucky
Ht/Wt: 6’0”, 223 lbs
Strengths:
– Patient runner.
– Sees the field well and will allow things to develop for himself.
– Will vary his tempo as needed, when navigating traffic.
– Good shiftiness. Can subtly make quick cuts and make people miss in the open field.
– Good enough size for work between the tackles. Vision also helps in this area.
– Looks capable as a pass catcher in a limited sample size.
Weaknesses:
– Can make people miss, but the effectiveness is somewhat negated because he lacks dynamic speed. Defenders, even when left behind, have the ability to recover.
– He doesn’t create many big plays, and you won’t see him win many footraces.
– Acceleration could be better.
– Size is alright, but his frame doesn’t suggest he will be a bruiser.
– Has some blips in pass protection.
– Fumbling issues.
– Was not immune to drops.
– Didn’t see him used a ton as a pass catcher. Translation to the next level is a bit of a projection.
Summary:
McGowan has the chance to find a role for himself thanks to his high end vision as a runner, and shiftiness to weave his way through traffic and make people miss. He lacks dynamic speed, so the ceiling is definitely capped. His tape didn’t have too many explosive runs, something that, to me, seemed like a direct result. Even when he made people miss, they were tracking him down pretty quickly, still. The good news is that his skill set, vision, and frame should be enough to help him get some of those tougher yards. Additionally, proving he can hang as a pass catcher, while also improving in protection, could go a long way. Ideally, his ceiling would be higher, but McGowan could still find a decent role. Starting is not out of the question, but even if he doesn’t, his profile suggests that he can be a very solid depth piece.
| Grade: 61.9 | Round Grade: 6th |
12
Jam Miller
School: Alabama
Ht/Wt: 5’10”, 209 lbs
Strengths:
– High intensity runner.
– Runs downhill with good power.
– Downhill speed looks pretty solid.
– Decent jump cut to create space in tight areas.
– Gets low to minimize tackling opportunities.
Weaknesses:
– Clunky when attempting to stop/start.
– Good one cut runner, but can look segmented when attempting more finesse moves.
– Vision behind the line is inconsistent. Looks good at times, where he uses his burst to quickly hit the hole. But he often takes too long to do so, and will see the opportunity dry up.
– Lateral limitations limit route running ability, and thus, ability as a pass catcher.
– Also committed some drops.
– Has some issues in pass protection.
Summary:
If Miller can improve his vision and be more decisive as a runner, he could see a role in a committee, or perhaps rotational work as a backup. He isn’t super fluid laterally, but has good downhill speed and is decent enough when limiting himself to one cut before accelerating upfield. He won’t offer much in the passing game, and his pass protection is definitely in need of a lot of improvement. But he has the frame to handle early down work, and enough tools to potentially be effective.
| Grade: 59.6 | Round Grade: 7th |
13
Roman Hemby
School: Indiana
Ht/Wt: 6’0”, 207 lbs
Strengths:
– Decent power on runs up the gut.
– Willing to take on contact.
– Jump cut is good enough for him to sometimes take the play outside.
– Can make himself smaller to find those tight spaces.
– Makes basic contributions as a pass catcher.
Weaknesses:
– Struggles in pass protection (but at least is willing).
– Hips are tight.
– Speed looks average, isn’t really a big play threat.
– Decent power, but I wouldn’t call him a power guy.
– Vision isn’t always great. Will sometimes leave yards out there.
Summary:
Hemby projects as a depth back at the next level. He runs with decent enough power, can make basic receiving contributions, and has enough one-cut ability as a runner to crack a roster. Improving in pass protection could help him see more snaps on offence. The willingness to take on blitzers is definitely there, so it is possible we see more consistency with some additional work. Overall, though, he lacks the athleticism to be a true difference maker, and while he has some power, it is not enough to really call him a power guy. His skill set is rounded enough for him to stick around, but there isn’t really a defining quality to his game, and his ceiling seems capped. Special teams could be an additional path to a roster spot, if he can earn some trust there.
| Grade: 59.4 | Round Grade: 7th |
14
Robert Henry
School: Texas-San Antonio
Ht/Wt: 5’9”, 196 lbs
Strengths:
– Frame is built pretty solid.
– Shows flashes of patience behind the line to let blocks develop.
– Decent cutting ability to make people miss and add yards to his carry, especially in a phone booth on inside runs.
– Jump cut was effective.
– High effort player.
Weaknesses:
– Frame is on the short side, even if well built.
– Power element is okay, but maybe a little inconsistent. He gets tackled on the spot a little more than I’d like to see.
– Speed is about average. Can hit the odd home run, but he doesn’t look like a burner.
– Ability to read the field needs to be more consistent.
– Doesn’t seem to offer much in the passing game.
Summary:
Henry doesn’t really have any traits that stand out, but rather a bunch of okay traits that could combine and be enough to earn him a depth role. He is short, but has a good enough build to run between the tackles. His ability to jump cut helps, but he needs to be more consistent in not getting tackles right on his spot. Athletically, his agility is decent enough and his speed is about average. His lack of production as a pass catcher likely carries over to the next level, but Henry has enough that he could be a 2 down backup.
| Grade: 58.4 | Round Grade: 7th |
15
Desmond Reid
School: Pitt
Ht/Wt: 5’6”, 174 lbs
Strengths:
– Good athlete. Speed and quickness to make plays and make people miss.
– Makes himself small on runs between the tackles, finding small crevices.
– Better than I expected between the tackles.
– Shows a good jump cut on inside runs.
– Has talent as a pass catcher.
– Good route runner.
Weaknesses:
– Size an issue for the position.
– Injury concerns.
– Overpowered in pass protection.
– Speed is good, but for his size, I’d like it to be elite.
– Better than expected up the gut, but it is still far from his strong suit. Gets bottled up a lot too.
– Some fumbling issues in 2024. Got better in 2025, in fairness.
Summary:
Reid is a shifty back with decent speed and good skills as a pass catcher. He can be someone who contributes in the passing game, but his small frame and struggles in pass protection may make coaches weary about giving him as many snaps. Obviously at his size, this will cause a big hit to his draft stock, but he actually was better between the tackles than I expected. Those inside runs won’t be his calling card, but he is at least respectable enough. The thing that stuck out to me was that his speed, while good for the position, didn’t look elite. For a smaller back, you would at least like his athletic traits to be top tier, similar to someone like Keaton Mitchell. In any event, Reid does bring enough to the table to make a team. His shortcomings in pass protection likely eat into his snap count, but rotational snaps that are aimed at getting the ball in his hands, as well as return opportunities, should yield decent returns. And he is someone that likely will still be available late in the draft.
| Grade: 57.0 | Round Grade: 7th |
16
Jaydn Ott
School: Oklahoma
Ht/Wt: 5’10”, 201 lbs
Strengths:
– Plays a quick brand of football.
– Good cuts and can maneuver his way through traffic, side stepping tackle attempts.
– At his best catching passes out of the backfield.
– Generally has reliable hands.
– Makes the catch and quickly looks to turn it upfield.
– Shows good patience and vision as a runner.
Weaknesses:
– Frame looks a bit lean on tape.
– Capable up the middle, but more in a finesse way than because of power.
– Is quicker than fast. Speed looks average on tape. For a finesse guy and receiving back, would like to see a bit more in this area.
– Makes a fair effort in pass protection, but is lacking the power to match up.
– Production regressed after showing more promise earlier in his career. Was close to nothing this past season.
– Played sparingly this past season after transferring.
Summary:
Ott seems to have slipped down in rankings after a highly disappointing season. He was in a rotational role with relatively very minimal production, after showing promise earlier in his college career. He doesn’t bring much power, and this shows on inside runs and in pass protection. However, he is a quick enough player, and his vision and patience quietly show up on runs between the tackles. His speed is average, but his quickness helps somewhat make up for it. He is solid as a runner, but is at his best catching passes out of the backfield. His hands are generally reliable, and his ability to turn the ball upfield and follow his blocks does allow for some nice gains. His lean frame, average speed, and low production will likely see him drop to later on day 3 of the draft. That being said, Ott has enough to work with for him to be a solid receiving back in a complementary role.
| Grade: 55.5 | Round Grade: 7th |
17
J’Mari Taylor
School: Virginia
Ht/Wt: 5’10”, 199 lbs
Strengths:
– Good build.
– Power runner with the ability to wear down defences.
– Can get those tough yards between the tackles.
– Asset in short yardage/goal line.
– Has a decent jump cut to dodge tackles on inside runs.
– Squares up man in pass protection and is fully willing to take him on.
– Good history of protecting the football.
Weaknesses:
– Athleticism underwhelms.
– Speed is below average.
– Lacks twitch.
– Can’t really create for himself or make people miss in the open field.
– Makes basic contributions as a pass catcher, but lacks the athleticism to get open or be a big play threat.
– Vision as a runner could use some improvement.
– Not really a threat on outside runs.
– Had some drops when targeted. Especially bad since most of his targets are simple routes.
Summary:
Taylor doesn’t have an exciting skill set, but he has some tools that could allow him to carve out a niche role at the next level. There is a tremendous amount of power to his game. He is the kind of back that defenders dread tackling, and he could pair up well with a smaller, shiftier back. That being said, his lack of speed and lack of twitch could still prevent him from seeing regular playing time between the 20’s. If there is anything that helps him, it will likely be his ability as a pass protector. But based on his skill set, he is most likely a depth player at the next level, whose power element could see him get snaps in short yardage situations.
| Grade: 53.4 | Round Grade: UDFA |
18
Kaytron Allen
School: Penn State
Ht/Wt: 5’11”, 216 lbs
Strengths:
– Bowling ball running style.
– Runs hard and tough between the tackles, and will lower his shoulder to deliver a blow as a defender tries to bring him down.
– Short, but has a good build to handle this style.
– Decent vision.
– Has some good reps in pass protection.
– Good track record for ball security.
Weaknesses:
– Speed looks below average on tape, for the position.
– Lacks agility or twitch to create in a phone booth or bounce runs outside.
– Easily gets tracked down in a footrace.
– Doesn’t offer much on outside runs or as a pass catcher.
– Needs to prove he can play on special teams.
Summary:
Allen plays with an abundance of power, and this will be his calling card if he makes it at the next level. He lacks both the speed and twitch to truly excel at the position, but his vision and power element could see him eventually land a niche role as a short yardage back. First, he’ll have to prove he can make a roster. After that, special teams could be key for him. Outside of that niche role, Allen projects as a depth player who will have to fight for a roster spot.
| Grade: 52.8 | Round Grade: UDFA |
19
CJ Donaldson
School: Ohio State
Ht/Wt: 6’2”, 230 lbs
Strengths:
– Great size for the position.
– Runs like a bowling ball.
– Lowers the shoulder and will make defenders pay for tackling him.
– Useful between the tackles in short yardage and goal to go situations.
– Has the frame to contribute in protection.
Weaknesses:
– Athleticism is well below average for the position.
– Lacks ideal speed and burst to take advantage of lanes that open up for just a split second.
– Doesn’t have the quickness to make people miss anywhere on the field.
– Vision could improve.
– A one-cut runner, but even those cuts show stiffness.
– Doesn’t add much to the passing attack as a receiver.
Summary:
Donaldson is a big, downhill back whose punishing style will be what he has to cling to in order to survive at the next level. He is a below average athlete for the position, and doesn’t bring much dynamic ability to the table. On inside runs, he can go for a respectable gain thanks to his ability to run through tackles. He does well on goal line carries, and will hope to keep that going at the NFL level. His ceiling is a depth player with the chance to earn a niche role in short yardage situations.
| Grade: 49.1 | Round Grade: UDFA |
1. Jeremiyah Love (89.5, Rd 1)
2. Jadarian Price (77.5, Rd 3)
3. Mike Washington (72.4, Rd 4)
4. Nicholas Singleton (72.2, Rd 4)
5. Eli Heidenreich (70.0, Rd 4)
6. Desmond Claiborne (68.6, Rd 5)
7. Rahsul Faison (68.4, Rd 5)
8. Le’Veon Moss (68.3, Rd 5)
9. Adam Randall (68.3, Rd 5)
10. Emmett Johnson (67.1, Rd 5)
11. Seth McGowan (61.9, Rd 6)
12. Jam Miller (59.6, Rd 7)
13. Roman Hemby (59.4, Rd 7)
14. Robert Henry (58.4, Rd 7)
15. Desmond Reid (57.0, Rd 7)
16. Jaydn Ott (55.5, Rd 7)
17. J’Mari Taylor (53.4, UDFA)
18. Kaytron Allen (52.8, UDFA)
19. CJ Donaldson (49.1, UDFA)
Notables Not Graded:
– Jonah Coleman
– Chip Trayanum
– Kaelon Black
– Al-Jay Henderson
– Noah Whittington
– Kentrel Bullock
– Dean Connors
– Sam Scott
– Jamal Haynes
See Also: 2026 NFL Draft – QB Rankings & Scouting Reports
